Palace, Places, and People to See.

Hello Fellow Blog Readers,

Today was another fun day of seeing some more of London's best while hanging with friends from around the globe.  Seriously, around the globe.

Please enjoy pictures today.

Sincerely,
Angela

Harrods Department Store.

Me.

Harrods even blings out their water bottles.

Horse Head in Marble Arch.

Outside Buckingham Palace.

Outside Buckingham Palace.

There's the Queen's casa.

Just some cool arches by Buckingham Palace.

I'm Such a Tourist.

Hi All,

So, I can report that I woke up at 9:30am this morning.  Granted, I laid there contemplating falling back to sleep until 10:00am, but I will dominate jet lag.  

Day two has been an awesome day as well.  Adi and I went around and saw all the touristy things to go see, and I have come to a conclusion.  I am a full on, all out tourist.  I feel like I stop every 5 seconds to take a picture or video or something.  And I think I am okay with that.  It is different than my every day life, of course, but I feel like I should be wearing my visor and fanny pack all while wearing my Hawaiian print shirt.  But for now, I will stick with my leather jacket and sandals.

Today, I went to the olympic park and since the Paralympics is going on, it was pretty crazy.  Also, the stadium is absolutely massive.  I was quite surprised.  I also got to meet up with a friend from Australia and was able to catch up with her about life and a ministry that she has been doing.  Had such a great time.

We also went to Piccadilly and oh my word.  It is absolutely amazing.  All the buildings are so amazingly beautiful.  All of them.  It is street after street after street.  It is like never ending beautiful-ness.  Yes, I just made a word up.  Thank you.

When we were walking around all the different theaters, we walked up to this huge crowd and there were lights and security everywhere.  So of course we go to see what it was.  It turned out to be the movie premiere Sweeney.  It was crazy and unlike anything that I have seen before.  It was awesome.

Because Adi is an actress, she can get discounts on shows, so we were able to go to a West End show called "Blood Brothers".  It was awesome.  It was professional.  It made my night.  After that, we walked toward Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the London Eye.  London at night is really cool.  They have everything lit up with different colors and it is just breath taking.

Again, today was another full and exciting day.  London is such a fast pace city full of different cultures and activities.  I am loving it.  Tomorrow is going to be another sight seeing day seeing friends from around the world.

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading all my mini activities and as a reward, I shall show you pictures.

Please enjoy.

Floating Man #1 in Covent Garden.

Floating Man #2 in Covent Garden.

Just hanging out with the Tallest Man on Earth, no big deal.

Regent Street.

En route to Lester Square.

Our tickets!

Phoenix Theater on Charing Cross Road.

The London Eye!

Big Ben!!!!

Until next time, have a great day!

Sincerely,

Ang

First 24 Hours.

Dear Ladies and Gents,

Can I just say it is day two in the lovely country of England and I have already done so much. Let me break it down for ya.

Flights can be an interesting place to gather stories. And I am no exception to that. My first flight to JFK was nice. Sat next to an amazing Austinite family with a great window seat. Let me jut say, flying into New York City is a trip. All I can say is, smog is real people. Smog is real.

After having 5 hours in the JFK airport, I boarded onto my flight bound for London. I originally had a middle section aisle seat an through a turn of events, I ended getting a window seat after trading my seat(s) for love bird couples. So, I finally sat down next to a business Puerto Rican man (who thought I was Puerto Rican, but that's beside the point) and got all settled. It was great. Time flew, quite literally. I was on cloud 9. I felt like a mature adult traveling internationally who is getting ready to studying abroad. It was awesome. And then breakfast came...

I had one hour left and was just chilling next to this good looking Puerto Rican just eating my breakfast and drinking my orange juice. They passed out arrival cards and I had to get a pen out of my bag. So I lifted my tray and started digging and then I realized I was tipping my orange juice cup forward. Thought I was sly by catching myself before the horrible disaster of spilling occurred. I was proud of my swift and cat-like reflexes. And then I felt it seep into my jeans. And not just on the thigh area either. I don't know how to put this delicately but I am just going to come right out and say it. I spilt a half a cup's worth of orange juice on my crotch, seat, and shirt. Crap.

Not only was I cold and wet, it got sticky and began to smell. And if you know anything about dried orange juice is it smells like pee. It also looks like it. So here I am with one hour left for it to dry and I'm trying to be this mature adult and I am arriving in London looking like I wet myself. Not even 24 hours into this trip (I haven't even arrived to be honest) and I am making quite the impression.

To sum this up, I stayed covered and tried to dry myself secretly and bolted to the bathroom as soon as it was possible. After going trough the easiest and quickest customs ever, I found Adi and we were on our way (with my incredibly heavy bags) to take on London.

The day was full of sight seeing, drinking coffee, and a concert of some absolutely amazing bands. The first day has been great. All I can say is when we went to bed, I don't remember laying there for longer than a minute.  It was glorious.

Here are just a couple pictures of my many from the day.

The One and Only, Mr. Matt Corby.

Gotta love red phone booths.

My form of transportation for the week.

March Arch!  Woot Woot!

That's all for the first day.  It's been awesome.  Simple.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Sincerely,

Angela

We Must Be Somewhere in London.

Dear Family and Friends.

This week has gone by so fast and the day has come for me to hop on a plane and take Europe on by storm.  It is a strange feeling to feel like you are waiting forever and then suddenly you don't have to wait anymore.  The time has come, and boy am I ready.  My bags are packed.  My room is clean.  And my traveling gnome is more than ready to make this journey.

The past couple of weeks I have been begging my dad to cook my birthday meal and birthday cake, since my birthday is in October and all.  In my family, it has been a tradition where the birthday boy/girl  gets to decide what meal is cooked that evening.  It has also been a tradition for me to have my dad bake me banana cake.  Because let's be honest, it is the best cake in the entire world.  So, because I was going to be abroad in October, I decided that I would highly suggest to my dad to make me my birthday meal.  I didn't need presents or a big shabang, I just wanted some comfort food.  And comfort food is what I got.  I got the best BBQ brisket ever and probably the best banana cake he has made yet.  MMM.  I am salivating as I type.  But I must continue to tell the story.  So, for dinner, we had some rockin' good food, and not only was my family there to enjoy the deliciousness, some friends that live in the neighborhood came over and delighted their bellies with the goodness.  It was an awesome time of fellowship and good eatin'.  Man, my dad can cook.  My mom chose well.

For my last night at home, my dad had to go to an important meeting in San Antonio, so it was just us girls at home.  Our friends across the street decided that we should have a tea party, and that we did.  We have had one before, but this needed to be a proper tea party.  And let me say, it was awesome.  We brought our tea cups and saucers and we even had sweets to go with it all.  It was a great time.  Here's proof.

After the tea party, we had some more friends from the neighborhood come by and say goodbye.  We just sat and talked while I painted my nails and my mom was being crafty.

It has also been nice to be able to catch up with friends during the week via phone, skype, or whatever mode of communication that was available.  Geez, technology is awesome.

I just sit here and am so thankful for those in my life and the opportunities I have been gien.  I am excited to embark on this journey and I am just beyond blessed to have such amazing friends and family in my life.  Clapping for everyone!

As I travel to London, I can't help but think of The National's song "England".  Here is an awesome cover of the song.  It has a banjo and all.  You knew I had to plug in folk music.

Hope everyone has a splendid weekend and the next time I write, I will be in another country.  No big deal.

Sincerely,

Ang

7 Days and Counting.

Oh hey there.

I am just writing to update you all that I have exactly one week until I embark on a journey of a lifetime.  First stop, England!!  I will be there for a little over two weeks to hang out with my sister and then it is off to Spain for three months.  Wowza!!!

Can't describe to you the excitement and nervousness that's running through my veins.  I guess that is expected with international travel, aye?  I can tell you though, sleeping has been an adventure in itself.  I don't know if it is the nerves or me being anxious or what, but sleeping the past week or so has been intense.  It is everything from having nightmares about natural disasters and me being abducted to tossing and turning because of the uncomfortable temperature in the room.

Let's just hope that sleeping will provide more rest and less exhaustion these last few nights.  Please.

Just want to say, my family is awesome.  We have been having a blast and my dad fixed his BBQ.  So, eating has been AMAZING.  I just like them a lot.

For now, I shall bid you adieu.  Hope your Sunday is just fabulous.

Sincerely,
Angela

I Will Wait.

Hello Fellow Reader,

So, the count down is still very much under way.  I have exactly 13 days now until my Euro Adventure begins and I cannot tell you how excited I am for this crazy awesome opportunity I have to study abroad.

To begin this post, you should listen to this song by one of my all-time favorite bands.  It may express a little more of what I am going to say.

"I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons

This trip is not only going to be way fun, I honestly believe that this trip is going to be a life changing experience.  I firmly believe the Lord is going to do amazing work while I am there, and that just excites me to no end.  Until then, I Will Wait.

But to be real honest with you, I am so giddy that I just can't wait to get going.  As part of our program, we are going to be working with missionaries in the area to help us get plugged into a local church and join a ministry of some sort.  It is going to be great to not only go to school but to get involved in a church there.  So, I see it as a win-win situation really.  School and ministry in Europe?  Yeah.  Definitely a win-win.

But for now, I am going to begin to organize and pack for my European Adventure.  Well let's be real, without my sisters and parents pushing me to organize, it wouldn't get done until the night before or morning of my departure.  We all know that I tend to procrastinate, so here I am, trying to get ahead of the game.

That's all for now.  Have a great Sunday, friend.

Sincerely,
Ang

We Grow Older Still.

Hey All,

Before I begin, please open this video and begin listening to this song.  It is the song of the summer for me.  Well let's be honest, the song of the year.  It will just set the mood for this post.  Y'know?

"Old Pine" by Ben Howard

Now to begin.  It has been a long time since I have written last, but as I am getting ready for my next international adventure, I thought I would share with you the summer that is catapulting me overseas this coming fall.

As I begin to think about this summer and how it has shaped up, I realize it started off in the spirit of the unknown and full of unanswered questions.  I feel like that is a common feeling amongst college students, and although the feeling can be disconcerting, I knew that this summer was going to be special.  Whatever it may be.

And special it was (and continues to be).

This summer has provided not only good memories with family and friends, it also has revealed to me some personal growth that I am continually trying to mold myself into.  In simplest form, it has been a summer of emotional roller coasters, and I wouldn't take it back for a moment.  Some moments were fun and joyous while others were heart wrenching and full of sadness.  The summer is unlike any that I have experienced before and I think that is why I am so shocked with how it has played out.  It has been completely unexpected and unplanned.  That may just define adventure right there.

I sit here thinking of all the things summer has provided for me and those loved ones around me, and I am just astounded with all that I have been able to do and learn.  Here is a VERY small glimpse of what I have been able to do.

Sheesh.  What a summer.  And that isn't even half of it.

As I prepare for my European adventure, I can't help but realize this summer is shaping and molding me into the woman of God that I need to be become for the future.  Though I am human and often fail, this is the time that I must step up and be and do more.  I will grow.

This last month will be full of putting into practice all that the Lord has been teaching me this summer and to bring the spirit of hope and peace to Europe to further the Kingdom of God.  There is no better time than now.  Is there?


September 1, 2012 I will be hopping on a plane to go on yet another great adventure.  Let the countdown begin.


Until next time, enjoy the Olympics, Shark Week, and the rest of the summer wherever you are.

Sincerely,

Angela